The Saarinen Tulip Chair

Ecology & Production Martin Konrad Gloeckle Fall 2007

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General The Saarinen Tulip chair is a real design classic. It made an impact on its initial release in 1957, has been in continuous production ever since, and found a place in many homes and museums. It is available in different models with or without arms, with different types of upholstery, and a wide variety of coverings. A matching table is also offered.

Eero Saarinen Eero Saarinen is a Finish-American designer and architect. He was born 1910 in Finland, and emigrated to the US in 1923. His father is the architect and Cranbrook Academy of Art director Eliel Saarinen. Saarinen studied fine arts in Paris and architecture at Yale, and practiced architecture with his father in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He designed many famous buildings in the US including Dulles Airport in Washington D.C., The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, and the TWA Terminal at JFK Airport in New York. Other famous furniture pieces include the Womb chair and the Grasshopper chair.

Awards The Saarinen Tulip chair received a multitude of awards, including The Museum of Modern Art Award in 1969, the Federal Award for Industrial Design in1969, and the Design Center Stuttgart Award in1962.

Saarinen Tulip Chair

Saarinen Tulip Chair XX

• Designer: Eero Saarinen, 1956 • Manufacturer: Knoll Inc., since 1957

• Price: $1000+ Knockoffs a vailable for $150+

Product Manufacturer Personal History Components Lifecycle Impacts Improvements Sources

Background

ISO 14001 certification

Knoll was founded in 1938 in New York by Hans Knoll. After his death

All manufacturing facilities in North America are ISO 14001-certified.

in 1955, it was taken over by his wife Florence Knoll.

ISO 14001 is an internationally accepted specification for an environ-

Knoll is one of the most well known high-end furniture companies

mental management system (EMS). It specifies requirements including

in the US and worldwide. It manufactures mostly office furniture and

establishing an environmental policy, determining environmental as-

systems. It’s KnollStudio line provides residential furniture.

pects and impacts of products/activities/services, and planning environmental objectives and measurable targets.

Design classics

ISO 14001 pertains to the process rather than to the product itself. The

The KnollStudio line includes many classic pieces of furniture design.

overall idea is to establish an organized approach to systematically

More than 40 pieces manufactured by Knoll are in the permanent De-

reduce the impact of the environmental aspects an organization can

sign Collection of The Museum of Modern Art in New York. Designers

control.

that worked for Knoll include Mies Van Der Rohe, Eero Saarinen, Ray and Charles Eames, and Marcel Breuer

Greenguard certification All current Knoll products are Greenguard certified or in process of

Locations

being certified. Greenguard is a certification for low-emitting interior

Knoll is headquartered in East Greenville, Pennsylvania, with four man-

products and building materials, which is recognized by the LEED pro-

ufacturing sites in North America: East Greenville, Pennsylvania; Grand

gram.

Rapids and Muskegon, Michigan; and Toronto, Ontario. Additional plants are found in Foligno and Graffignana, Italy. In North America, Knoll is represented by more than 300 dealerships and 100 showrooms and regional offices. In Europe, Knoll furniture is represented by dealers in most major cities, while independently owned dealers and licensees are found throughout Asia and Latin America,

Knoll, Inc.

Saarinen Tulip Chair Product XX Manufacturer Personal History Components Lifecycle Impacts Improvements Sources

• American furniture company, founded 1938 • Office furniture + KnollStudio residential line

• American plants ISO 14001 certified • Products Greenguard certified or in process

Background A close friend owned a full set of four Saarinen chairs and one table. These were in her possession through her parents, which bought these original pieces in the 70’s. Due to a move, my friend needed to sell these, and due to my interest in furniture design offered these to me. She gave me a highly generous offer that I could not resist, even though I do not have the space to appropriately place the pieces at this point. But I could not pass up on this opportunity to own an original design classic.

Dian

a: Th ank You!! !

My Chairs

Saarinen Tulip Chair Product Manufacturer XX Personal History Components Lifecycle Impacts Improvements Sources

Todo : to ha Find a lo ve a matc ft apart hing m spac ent e ...

• Table + four chairs, original pieces from 1970’s • Bought September 2007 from friend

• Chance to own an original design classic • Very good price

Introduction

No specific information could be found on Ebro, however Cato could

The chair consists of several components. Complete information on

be identified as containing the following materials: Pure New Wool

the specific materials could not be obtained for every piece, therefore

86.00%, Rayon 14.00%.

assumptions were made for some of these. For clarity reasons and based on general impacts, the focus is on the major components, and

Cushion foam

does not include smaller parts like zippers and attachments.

No specific information could be found on the foam used in the cushion. Polyurethane foam has been assumed.

Overview Base

Component

Material

Production Method

Shell

Fiberglass

Molded

The finish used for the base is called Rilsan. Rilsan is the brand name of

Plastic Finish

Coated

a high performance polyamide (nylon) coating by the french company

Foam

Expanded + Molded

Arkema. Two types of Rilsan are available: Polyamide 11 and Polyamide

Fabric

Woven

Aluminum

Cast

Rilsan Finish

Coated

Cushion

Base

12, which one is in use for this piece could not be determined.

Rilsan Polyamide 11 Rilsan Polyamide 11 is a sustainable polymer – a polyamide derived

Shell

from castor plant–based renewable resources.

No specific information could be found on the plastic finish used on

A lucrative market seems to exists for the castor bean’s unique oil.

the shell. A generic plastic finish has been assumed.

Components of the oil are essential for making high-quality lubricants for heavy equipment or jet engines. Castor oil is also used in paints,

Cushion fabric

coatings, plastics, antifungal compounds, shampoo, and cosmetics.

A multitude of textiles are currently available for the cushion fabric.

However, castor beans contain a toxic known as ricin as well as power-

Research revealed that the cushion textile on my piece most likely is

ful allergens. People who work with it may develop allergic reactions,

KnollTextiles Ebro: “Introduced in the 1960, the classic basket weave

such as hives or asthma. It therefore is currently not extensively grown

construction of Ebro is the ‘little sister’ to Cato. Designed for upholstery

in the US. Conventional breeding to remove the ricin and allergens

applications. [...] Introduced in 1961, Cato has achieved iconic status

has not been successful. Biotechnology, i.e. genetically engineering, is

among upholstery textiles.”

currently explored.

Components

Saarinen Tulip Chair

Shell Molded Fiberglass with What ki plastic finish plastic nd of ?

Cushion Fabric covered What foam of fa kind bric ?

Base Cast Aluminum with W h Rilsan finish R at is ilsan ?

Product Manufacturer Personal History XX Components Lifecycle Impacts Improvements Sources

Introduction A high-level overview of the lifecycle of the Saarinen Tulip Chair can be found at the right.

Steps Due to the multitude of steps involved, it has been decided to break the lifecycle into several steps: •

Raw Material Extraction: How the raw materials are obtained

•

Material Production: How the basic materials are produced out of the obtained raw materials

•

Parts Production: How the materials are combined to produce the individual parts

•

Assembly: How the individual parts are combined to the final piece

•

Use: The use of the chair by the end-user

•

Disposal/Recycling: The handling of the chair at the end of it’s lifecycle

Transport Where materials, parts, or the full piece are usually transported has been indicated through a dashed line.

Detail The Raw Material Extraction and Material Production phases are the most interesting phases within this context. These are described in more detail.

Overview Extraction of Bauxite

Material Production

Refinement of Oil

Production of Rilsan

Production of Chair Base

Production of Plastic finish

Production of Polymers

Production of Chair Shell

Production of Glass Fibers

Shearing of Fleece

Extraction of Cellulose

Production of Wool Yarns

Production of Rayon

Production of Fabric

Production of Foam

Production of Chair Cushion

Assembly Assembly of Chair

Use Use of Chair

Disposal/ Recycling

Disposal of Base

Disposal of Aluminum

Disposal of Shell

Disposal of Foam

Disposal of Coat

Process

Disposal of Cushion

Transport

Disposal of Textile

}

g

Production of Aluminum

Parts Production

Extraction of Glass Components

Extraction of Oil

tin nteres Most i

Raw Material Extraction

Saarinen Tulip Chair Product Manufacturer Personal History Components XX Lifecycle Impacts Improvements Sources

Introduction

Resource usage

One of the more interesting aspects discovered is the use and impacts

It takes far more water, grazing land and cropland to feed animals for

of wool. At first thought, this may be considered a ‘natural’ and there-

the entirety of their lives than to grow crops like hemp or cotton.

fore less impactful material. However, this is not the case. Wool has a multitude of negative environmental impacts.

Wildlife Wild animals, such as wolves and coyotes, are seen as a threat to sheep

Global warming

and other livestock. Many potential predators are killed by ranchers

Animals produce methane from burping and flutulence. Methane is

and government agencies, as they disappear ecosystems become un-

a greenhouse gas 20 times the strength of carbon dioxide in terms

balanced.

of greenhouse warming. Livestock is the largest agriculture-related source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Cruel practices

94% of all methane emissions from agricultural sources can be traced

Many practises that would be considered cruel on cats or dogs are

to animal husbandry. Agriculture sources accounted for one-third of

widely carried out on sheep. This includes death from cold or star-

total methane emissions between 1989 and 1996. Australia, which

vation, from diseases, lack of shelter, and neglect. Also, to obtain the

produces 80% of the world’s wool, has 114 million sheep producing

maximum amount of wool many ranchers may shear too early. Ap-

methane. Methane accounts for 14% of Australia’s greenhouse gas

proximately one million Australian sheep die every year of exposure

emissions and 50% of New Zealand’s.

after premature shearing as a result of this. Another example are Merino sheep, the most commonly raised sheep.

Water pollution

These have been bred specifically to enlarge their skin, yielding more

Animal waste is a large source of pollution to water resources. Ani-

wool per sheep. This extra skin causes many animals to die of heat

mal waste contains excessive nitrogen and phosphorus that removes

exhaustion in the summer. The excess folds on Merino sheep are also

vital oxygen from the water, causing ‘pond scum’ and making water

breeding grounds for parasites, literally eating them alive.

unsuitable for drinking, irrigation, or recreation. Sheep dipping, a practice used to control parasites in flocks, is another source of pollution. The sheep dip mixtures contain hazardous substances that are toxic to ranch workers and the environment.

Legend: SOx: Sulfur Oxides (Sulfur Dioxide SO2, Sulfur Trioxide SO3) NOx: Nitrogen Oxides (Nitric Oxide NO, Nitrogen Dioxide NO2) COx: Carbon Oxides (Carbon Oxide CO, Carbon Dioxide CO2) VOC: Volatile Organic Compound

Raw Material Extraction Material

Energy

Raw Material Extraction

Waste/ By-product

Emissions

•• Bauxite in ground

•• Crude Oil in ground

•• Electricity •• Diesel oil

•• Electricity •• Diesel oil

Extraction of Bauxite

Extraction of Crude Oil

•• Bulk waste

•• CO2, CO, NOx, SOx

•• Sand •• Soda Ash •• Limestone •• Feldspar

•• Sheep

•• Wood (Pulp)

•• Electricity •• Diesel oil

•• Electricity •• Diesel oil

•• Electricity

Extraction of Sand, Limestone, Soda Ash, Feldspar

Shearing of Fleece

Extraction of Cellulose

•• Pesticide Residue

•• Waste water •• Chemical Waste

•• CO2, CO, NOx, SOx

•• Particulates •• SOx, NOx, CO2 •• Suspended Solids

Wool is good, right?

•• Oil containing Mud

Solid Waste

•• CO2, CO, NOx, SOx •• Particulates, VOC •• Oil, Metals

•• Particulates •• SOx, NOx, CO2 •• Suspended Solids

• Global warming through methane gas • Water pollution through waste and sheep dipping

• Extensive resource usage • Reduced wildlife through predator control • Cruel animal treatment practices

Saarinen Tulip Chair Product Manufacturer Personal History Components XX Lifecycle Impacts Improvements Sources

Introduction

Recycling

Another highly interesting material is Aluminum. Its production is de-

Aluminum production is a highly energy intensive process. Aluminum

scribed here in detail.

recycling however uses approximately 5% of the energy required for its primary production, and generates 5% of the greenhouse gas emis-

Bauxite

sions.

Bauxite is the ore from which aluminium is extracted. It is the most

The European recycling rate of the aluminium beverage can reached

abundant metal in the earth’s crust, and the third most abundant ele-

48% in 2003.

ment overall (after oxygen and silicon). More than 130 millions tones of bauxite are mined each year. Reserve

Impacts

estimates indicate adequate supply for at least 400 years, with the ma-

Since 1989, studies in Canadian, Australian, American and European

jor deposits in the tropics and sub-tropics.

medical journals have linked high levels of aluminum in drinking water

Bauxite is generally extracted by open cast mining from strata typically

with increased incidence of Alzheimer’s. These findings however are

13 to 20 feet thick, under a shallow covering of topsoil and vegetation.

not yet commonly confirmed or accepted.

Increased efforts are in place to restore sites after mining.

Rehabilitation An International Aluminium Institute (IAI) 2002 survey covered 71% of the world bauxite production: The identified relationship between area mined and area rehabilitated was 83%. It further claimed that 97% of operations have rehabilitation plans in place.

Efficiency Bauxite is refined to recover Alumina, which is then converted to Aluminum. Four to six tons of Bauxite lead to two tons of Alumina, which leads to one ton of Aluminum.

Material Production Material

Energy

Material Production

•• Bauxite Ore •• Lime •• Caustic soda

•• Extracted Crude Oil

•• Heat •• Electricity •• Diesel oil

•• Heat •• Electricity •• Diesel oil

e? Bauxit a? Alumin m? u Alumin

Production of Aluminum

Waste/ By-product

Emissions

•• Solid waste •• Scrap (100% Recycled)

•• SO2, CO2 •• Suspended Solids

•• Silica Sand •• Limestone •• Soda Ash •• Cullet

•• Water •• Polyurethane •• Catalysts •• Blowing Agents

•• Water •• Soap, Alkali •• Chemical solvents •• Fleece •• Dye

•• Caustic soda •• Carbon disulfide •• Sulfuric acid •• Water Cellulose

•• Electricity

•• Electricity

•• Electricity

•• Electricity

Production of Wool yarns

Production of Rayon

Refinement of Oil

Production of Rilsan

Production of Plastic finish

Production of Polymers

•• Bulk Waste •• Hazardous Waste

•• Bulk Waste •• Hazardous Waste

•• Bulk Waste •• Hazardous Waste

•• CO2, VOC

•• CO2, VOC

•• CO2, VOC

Production of Glass Fibers

•• Cut Waste

•• CO2, VOC •• Fibrous dust

• 4-6 tones Bauxite  2 tones Alumina  1 ton Aluminum • Highly energy intensive production process

Production of Foam

Production of Woven Fabric

•• Cut Waste

•• Sand, Dirt, Grease •• Waste water, pesticide •• Textile waste

•• CO2, VOC

•• Carbon disulfide •• Hydrogen sulfide •• VOC

• Open cast mining • ~80 of mined area rehabilitated

Saarinen Tulip Chair Product Manufacturer Personal History Components XX Lifecycle Impacts Improvements Sources

Overview The remaining steps of the lifecycle are illustrated to the right. While these are only covered here on a high level, some findings for these steps can be pointed out here.

Waste Waste is created during the parts production. Most of this waste, like aluminum scrap or fabric waste can be reused or recycled. It is however not clear how much this is currently the case for this product.

Emissions Throughout almost all steps, CO2 and VOC are released. This includes the Use phase, due to the necessary cleaning as well as off-gasing.

Recycling Many of the used materials can theoretically be recycled, including aluminum, fiber glass, foam, and textiles. It is however not clear how much of this is currently carried out. The use of resins to cover the shell and base require additional efforts to separate these from the used aluminum and fiber glass.

Parts, Assembly, Use, Disposal •• Aluminum •• Rilsan

•• Plastic finish •• Polymer •• Glass fibers

•• Foam •• Woven fabric

•• Electricity

•• Electricity

•• Electricity

Product Manufacturer Personal History Components XX Lifecycle Impacts Improvements Sources

•• Shell •• Base •• Cushion

Parts Production

•• Chair

•• Electricity Production of Base

Production of Shell

Production of Cushion

Assembly

•• Aluminum scrap (Recyclable)

•• Bulk Waste

•• Fabric waste

Assembly of Chair

•• Electricity

•• Base

•• Shell

•• Cushion

•• Electricity

•• Electricity

•• Electricity

Use

Use of Chair •• CO2, VOC

•• CO2, VOC

•• CO2, VOC

•• CO2, VOC

•• CO2, VOC

Saarinen Tulip Chair

Disposal/Recycling

•• Waste water •• Detergent/ Cleaner

Disposal of Base

Disposal of Shell

Disposal of Cushion

•• VOC

•• Aluminum

•• Fiber Glass

•• Foam

•• Textile

•• CO2, VOC

•• CO2, VOC

•• CO2, VOC

•• CO2, VOC

Introduction

Further, this may also lead to the development and spread of new dis-

Besides specific impacts of individual materials or production process-

eases across regions, e.g. SARS.

es, common impacts also need to be considered. These are impacts that come with the general production and usage of most products.

Occupational hazards

While efforts can be made to limit these, they rarely can be completely

With many production related occupations come occupational haz-

eliminated.

ards. This includes the exposure to toxic elements or the use of danger-

This should serve as a reminder that addressing specific material and

ous machines.

production issues is only one way to reduce a products environmental impact. Maybe more important is the avoidance of using certain prod-

Accidents

ucts in the first place, to reduce their usage, and/or to lengthen their

Lastly, besides (more or less) controllable occupational hazards comes

lifecycle.

the chance of accidents. Fires, explosions, chemical leaks and spills pose dangers to human, animal, and plant life.

Natural resources exploration and extraction Whenever natural resources are explored or extracted, several environmental impacts can be observed. This includes the deforestation and chronic environmental degradation often due to the provision of transport ways. This in turn leads to habitat and livestock disruption.

Population movements With the exploration and extraction comes population movement. Depending on the individual circumstances, these can be quite significant and can have a major impact on the environment. With population movement usually also comes the spreading of infectious diseases. This could mean the introduction of diseases to an otherwise healthy population that has not been previously exposed to this disease and therefore has not developed resistance against it. This could also mean the acceleration of the spread of infectious diseases, e.g. the spread of AIDS along major traffic routes.

Common Impacts

Saarinen Tulip Chair Product Manufacturer Personal History Components Lifecycle XX Impacts Improvements Sources

• Natural resources exploration and extraction • Population movements

• Occupational hazards • Accidents

Introduction

Wool

Besides the mentioned common impacts, here are specific impacts

Similar, the negative impacts of wool have been described above. The

relating to the Saarinen Tulip chair.

common use of toxic chemicals for dyeing, as well as the high amount of waste water usage should be added.

Plastics and foam Plastics and foam are used across this product, with plastic being one of the major materials. The used plastics and foam depend heavily on non-renewable oil extraction and production. Further, a multitude of mostly toxic chemicals are used or created during production, with environmental impacts to both humans and nature. Plastics have many negative impacts across their life cycle, including often limited recycling possibilities.

Oil Plastics heavily depend on oil, and therefore are highly dependent on oil prices. It is interesting to note that almost 90% of the world’s known oil reserves exist in the Middle East, a rather unstable region. (It is also argued by many that the continuing need for oil for transportation and oil-based products is a major factor in conflicts across the world.)

Aluminum As described earlier, aluminum extraction and production is a highly energy and resource intensive process. However, it must be noted here again that it provides for good recycling possibilities

Specific Impacts

Saarinen Tulip Chair Product Manufacturer Personal History Components Lifecycle XX Impacts Improvements Sources

• Plastics and foam highly dependent on oil • High impact of wool on environment and wildlife

• Initial aluminum production resource and energy intensive but recycles very well

Overview Several opportunities to reduce the impact of the Saarinen Tulip chair exist. Besides the obvious investigation of alternative materials or processes, it also needs to be looked into other areas. For example, how can the lifecycle of the chair be lengthened? Or how can the consumer be encourage to make more use of recycling versus simple disposal? These approaches are not mutually exclusive. Rather, they should be used in conjunction to allow for the most impact.

Approaches not mutually exclusive!

Saarinen Tulip Chair Product Manufacturer Personal History Components Lifecycle Impacts XX Improvements Sources

• Lengthen life cycle • Provide recycling opportunities

• Increase share of recycled materials • Use alternative materials and processes

Overview The Saarinen Tulip chair as well as all many other Knoll products are high-end pieces that use highly durable materials. They remain structurally sound and usable for a long time. However, wear and tear is unavoidable as part of the ongoing usage. Often, this may lead to early disposal of the pieces due to purely visual reasons, while they are actually still fully functional. Surface repair or refurbishing can address this issue.

Knoll Certified Refurbishing Services As many owners may be rather skeptical of handing their pieces to an unknown craftsperson, a certification program is appropriate. Knoll would test refurbishers to certain standards and on completion of the test provide them with a certificate. It may also provide appropriate training to interested companies. A list of certified providers could be obtained from Knoll either online or offline. With time, a nation-wide or global network of certified providers would be available. These will make the necessary repairs, potentially drastically increasing the life cycle of the furniture pieces, and avoiding landfill.

Certified Refurbishing

Saarinen Tulip Chair Product Manufacturer Personal History Components Lifecycle Impacts XX Improvements Sources

Certified Refurbisher

care d o o g e ll tak us piece! i w y cio the r pre u o y of

• High end pieces, structural sound components • Wear and tear unavoidable • Often disposed due to purely visual issues

• Establish and provide reference to network of Knoll certified refurbishers • Increases usable life cycle

Overview

ist for companies and industries that address these issues rather now

At first thought, the establishment of a manufacturer recycle program

than later.

to return used furniture seems to be appropriate. However, this is neither economically nor ecologically sound. Rather, a cross-manufacturer and cross-industry recycling infrastructure should be implemented.

Cross-industry recycling infrastructure Many recyclable materials occur across manufacturers and industries. Separating, recycling, and reusing these materials on a local level is appropriate, as it avoids additional transportation. Manufacturers would work together with local recycling facilities to provide the consumer with the opportunity and information on where and how to dispose of the used furniture. As recycling is often not carried out simply due to convenience issues, programs like local drop-off facilities or pickup services may be established. The provision of coupon or rewards programs may further encourage the user to dispose of pieces through recycling facilities.

Industry-lead Many may argue that this kind of effort should rather be implemented through governmental regulations. However, this currently is not done by the appropriate governmental agencies. The reasons for this are multiple, from lobbying by certain industries or special interest groups, to short-term based planning or populism. A look to other countries or regions, e.g. Germany or Scandinavia, can serve as an inspiration on potential schemes. As government regulations may improve in the future, a competitive advantage would ex-

Cross-Industry Recycling

Saarinen Tulip Chair Product Manufacturer Personal History Components Lifecycle Impacts XX Improvements Sources

governmenta l regulation not effectiv industry le e, adership ne eded

• Single vendor recycling program not economical • Similar recyclable materials cross-vendor and cross-industry • Work with local recycling facilities

• Provide information on recycling opportunities • Make recycling more convenient • Further encouragement through coupon or rewards program

Overview

ering polyurethane foam from auto-shredder residue (the material left

Many used materials of the chair are available as recycled materials.

after metals are recovered) can be used.

The use of recycled materials should be increased, as these often require significantly less energy and provide much less other environmental impacts. In the case of the Saarinen Tulip chair, this can be applied to several components. No information was available on what percentage of the current used materials are recycled materials.

Fiberglass shell Recycled glass or glass fibers can be used for the manufacturing of the fiberglass shell. As the shell is covered by a coat, the mixture and color of the used materials are of less importance.

Aluminum base Aluminum recycling uses approximately 5% of the energy required for primary production and generates 5% of the greenhouse gas emissions. Increased use of recycled aluminum for the base will therefore have a significant impact.

Wool fabric The fabric used for the cushion cover could make use of recycled materials. This can be recycled wool as well as recycled plastics.

Foam cushion Recycled foam is becoming increasingly available. This could be postindustrial and post-consumer scrap. Or new developments like recov-

Recycled Materials Shell Recycled glass or glass fibers for fiberglass shell

Cushion Recycled wool Recycled foam

Base Recycled aluminum

this f o much ing w o h en lear ly happ c t o t n rren u c is

Saarinen Tulip Chair Product Manufacturer Personal History Components Lifecycle Impacts XX Improvements Sources

Overview

Wool fabric

The use of more recycled and recyclable material may be a first step.

Several alternatives exist to the used wool fabric. While conventionally

However, alternative materials, processes, and constructions should be

grown cotton is generally a heavy sprayed crop with substantial envi-

also considered. Specifically with a product that has been in produc-

ronmental impact, organic grown cotton is a viable alternative.

tion for many decades, new technology advancements may provide

Hemp is generally sprayed with less pesticides and provides a higher

more ecologically sound opportunities.

crop yield than cotton. It is another valid alternative to the current used wool.

General The use of bio-degradable materials is in general desirable. However,

Foam cushion

these require specific knowledge about the expected life time of indi-

Natural latex foam rubber can be used as an alternative to the most

vidual pieces to choose the appropriate degradation time and mate-

likely used polyurethane foam. It is one of the most long lasting and

rial. In the field of furniture, this is a non-trivial task and often can’t be

least toxic cushioning materials. It is an environmentally friendly renew-

carried out. For some smaller and/or easily replaceable parts e.g. the

able resource that is naturally harvested from rainforest rubber trees.

cushions, this may be considered, while it is less appropriate for major

It usually outlasts toxic synthetic petroleum based urethane foams, of-

parts like the shell and base.

ten 20 years or more, at which time it can the be safely biodegraded in a landfill. Some people however have developed latex allergies, which

Fiberglass shell

would need to be taken into account.

Instead of fiberglass, polypropylene might be used for the shell. This material can be more easily recycled. Further, it provides less environ-

Aluminum base

mental impact during production than fiberglass.

Few alternatives exist to aluminum that provide similar qualities, in-

For the covering of the shell, bio-based resins can be used. These res-

cluding the light weight and easy recyclability. However, new produc-

ins are replacing 50% or more of the petroleum content in traditional

tion methodologies should be examined that might lead to a reduc-

plastic products with bio-based materials such as starches from corn,

tion of the amount of aluminum used. This could involve the simple

tapioca, wheat and potatoes.

reduction of the base thickness, potentially in combination with the addition of selected thicker structural areas. The use of newly developed steel or aluminum foams may also be appropriate. Similar to the shell, bio-based resins can be used.

Alternative Materials

Saarinen Tulip Chair Product Manufacturer Personal History Components Lifecycle Impacts XX Improvements Sources

Shell

able l c y Polypropylene rec base Bio-based resin finish d corn on mate , tap r ioca, ials lik e s whea t an tarches d po tatoe from s Cushion Organic cotton or hemp Natural latex

Base

w Less material revie Bio-based resin finish

used

logy

no tech

As mentioned, the above approaches are not mutually exclusive. Rather, they need to be further investigated and depending on the individual feasibilities, a combination of these might be chosen.

Hopefully, together these will help the Saarinen Tulip chair to be manufactured, sold, and enjoyed for at least another 50 years, while making a minimal impact on the environment.

Saarinen Tulip Chair Product Manufacturer Personal History Components Lifecycle Impacts XX Improvements Sources

50 years! r e h ot n a or s enjoy it f let’

Sources

Aluminum for Future Generations/European Aluminum Association, www.alufuture.org Answers.com, www.answers.com Argonne National Laboratory - Office of Technology Transfer, anl.gov Arkema Inc., www.arkema-inc.com Ashby, M. and Kara Johnson. Materials and Design. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2002. Bouman, Korneel. Studio Proprietor, DWR Studio NYC - Columbus Ave.nue. Interviewed 10.19.07 biopolymer.net, online resources for a better environment, biopolymer.net Cereplast, Inc, cereplast.com Environmental Literacy Council,

www.enviroliteracy.org

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), www.epa.gov FoamSource, foamsource.com Cradle to Grave: How Products Impact Natural Systems, www.howproductsimpact.net HermanMiller, herman-miller.com International Aluminum Institute, www.world-aluminum.org/ Lewis, Helen, and John Gertsakis. Design + Environment. Greenleaf Pubns, 2001. RocksAndMinerals.com, www.rocksandminerals.com/ The Shear Facts - Health, www.health.rmad.org/wool.htm Wikipedia, www.en.wikipedia.org

Saarinen Tulip Chair Product Manufacturer Personal History Components Lifecycle Impacts Improvements XX Sources

Martin Konrad Gloeckle - [email protected] - (917) 407-2028